30 years of radio supports local
people in their hometowns
Scott Schramm and his team are the radio station locals who report what matters in their communities. With four radio stations covering many areas, the KWYR Radio team spread local voices across rural areas.
“It’s rewarding to know that when we are involved, it’s helping people,” says Scott. “Whether it be their business, attendance at the local sporting event or a local homecoming, prom, or graduation event, a fundraiser for the area pool, or whatever it may be, our involvement certainly makes a difference.”
Scott explains music is only part of what makes a successful radio station. Each day, his team interviews locals to share their perspectives on their various radio
shows. On Thursdays, a community member gets involved by serving as DJ for the Day on Rooster Country and Dells Empire Country.
For nearly 30 years, 93.7FM listeners have been picking the music every Friday. The radio station has been taking requests the entire workday for about 1,500 Fridays!
People and their perspective
Local stories and people make up communities in rural areas, Scott says. Radio stations create a bond in the community by providing a voice for the same people he sees at the grocery store.
“We enjoy serving the public with small-town radio,” says Scott. “We talk about elementary and high school sports, amateur baseball, the blood drive next door, feeding South Dakota, fundraisers for local businesses, you name it. From a local standpoint, nothing is too small town for us to put on the air.”
Four ways to listen
The four radio stations – Country 1260, Magic 93, Rooster Country, and Dells Empire Country – all operate under KWYR Radio. Each station covers a different area but is hosted under the same umbrella.
All four of the stations are available online with quick access by mobile phone and tablets. Two of them, AM 1260 which began in 1957 and FM 93.7 which began in 1971, are on the dial – meaning they are broadcast to those frequencies.
Pursuing interests
The close-knit radio station team members passionately work for their community. Scott and his team also introduce curious high schoolers to radio, giving them a chance to pursue their potential interest in broadcasting.
Scott became involved in radio in a similar way in his teen years. After being approached by the radio station owner in 1987, he joined as a disc jockey. At that time, most of his duties revolved around the record. Scott would manually spin records, play commercials, and more.
In 1996, Scott became the owner of the two on-air radio stations. Later he added two more online radio stations for easier access across a larger area.
Rural partners
KWYR Radio utilizes Golden West services to assist them with providing their community with quality programming. Scott says that their fiber connection allows them to be on a dedicated network, which removes interference with their broadcast signal.
He says Golden West’s technicians provide a good feeling of certainty in their service territory. The assistance the team at KWYR receives from Golden West allows real community members to be there for each other, tying people in rural areas together.
“Golden West is right across the street in Winner, right out our back door,” says Scott. “When we need something, they’re here. They all know us, and we all know them. Golden West has a small-town mentality, and so do we, which makes for a good partnership.”
Watch the YouTube video on KWYR Radio here.
